San Jose vs Tirana: cost of living for digital nomads

San Jose, Costa Rica and Tirana, Albania, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Tirana is about 37% cheaper than San Jose for a month of nomad living ($1,200 vs $1,900).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $520 in Tirana against $900 in San Jose.
  • Tirana scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
  • Internet is faster in San Jose: 80 Mbps typical against 60 Mbps.
  • San Jose is tropical; Tirana is mediterranean.

San Jose wins 2 of the measured lines; Tirana wins 6.

LineSan JoseTirana
Monthly total (USD)$1,900$1,200
Rent$900$520
Food$480$340
Transport$55$35
Coworking$140$90
Safety (out of 10)7/108/10
Internet (Mbps)8060
Climatetropicalmediterranean
City sizemetromid
Settinginlandinland
Nomad score (out of 10)8/107/10

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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.